North, South Korea reportedly discussing plan to announce end of war following summit

WATCH ABOVE: U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that North Korea and South Korea had his "blessing" as the two countries discuss ending the war. He also said if things don't go well, the meeting with Kim Jong Un may not happen.

Next week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is scheduled to make history when he meets South Korean President Moon Jae In at a summit just inside South Korean territory across the fortified border that divides the two countries. He will be the first North Korean leader to step on South Korean soil since the 1950s.

South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported Tuesday preparations are underway at the border truce village of Panmunjom for the April 27 summit between the two leaders, while President Moon expressed optimism, reaffirming his plan to establish peace on the Korean peninsula.

South Korean presidential chief of staff, Im Jong Sok, told reporters Tuesday the two Koreas hope to release a joint statement following next week’s summit. Im said the statement would focus on denuclearization and peace on the peninsula.

However, Im expressed caution about the possible joint statement, noting that any agreement between the two countries would be hard to implement without the support of the U.S.

“This summit is significant because it will set the stage for the North Korea-U.S. summit, and even a possible three-way summit between the countries,” Im told reporters. “Without U.S. support and agreement, it will be difficult to follow through on inter-Korean agreements.”

As for Moon, South Korea’s goal for the upcoming summit is to establish permanent peace with the North.

“[The goal is] to bring down the wall between the South and the North and build a path to coexistence and joint development,” Yonhap quoted the South Korean president as saying. “Separated families must be allowed to reunite, exchange greetings and freely visit each other.”

WATCH: North Korea quiet as U.S. holds joint military drills with South Korea ahead of meeting